The first Archbishop of Santa Fe, Jean Baptiste Lamay, commissioned the construction of the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi (patron saint of Santa Fe) in 1869. Completed in 1886, the Cathedral became the Mother Church of the Archdioces. Two older churches had previously occupied this same site; the first, constructed in 1626, was destroyed during the 1680 Pueblo Revolt; the second church, known as "La Parroquia" (meaning "parish") was built between 1714 and 1717. The new Cathedral was built around this second old adobe church, which was then dismantled once the Cathedral construction had been completed. A small chapel on the north side of the Cathedral is all that remains of "La Parroquia." A bit of trivia; the left tower is a single row of bricks taller than the one on the right. A beautiful rose window over the front entrance and stained glass widows depicting the Twelve Apostles, along the side of the Cathedral, were created in Clermont-Ferrand France specifically for this religious edifice. Above the main entrance, a keystone contains a triangle with Hebrew writing. Tradition states that this was added as a thank-you to the Jewish Community of Santa Fe for its financial support during construction. If you look carefully above one of the arches to the left of the Baptismal Font and Pool, you can see a painted medallion containing the Star of David, also in recognition of the Jewish Community's support. In the courtyard out front, is a statue to Kateri Tekakwitha, an Algonquin Mohawk from New York State, who was the first Native American to be named a saint. On the 100th anniversary of the Cathedral (1986), a beautiful ornamental screen was added to the wall behind the Sanctuary altar, depicting Saint Francis surrounded by the saints of "The New World." This building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2010.
Bronze doors depicting the Cathedral's history, were added during 1986 renovations.
Above the bronze main entrance doors, this keystone contains a triangle with the Hebrew word "Yahweh" (meaning "God"), as a thank-you to the Jewish Community's financial support during construction of the Cathedral.
...in the middle of which is an elegant Batismal Font and pool (something we have not encountered before).
La Conquistadora Chapel, built in 1626, is all that remains of "La Parraquia" church, around which the Cathedral was constructed
A rose window (created in Clermont-Ferrand, France) above the main entrance, is absolutely beautiful.
In the front courtyard are two statues; one depicting Jean Baptiste Lamay, first Archbishop of Santa Fe....
...and one, dedicated to Kateri Tekakwitha, the first Native American to be named a saint.